Margaret Reynolds MARK EMKES BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS Interview with Mark Emkes, recently retired CEO of Bridgestone Americas.How did you get your start in this industry?I started off changing tires in a store in Houston for 3 months, then got promoted to service manager, and three months later I was assistant store manager and eventually store manager. After 6 months …
Banking is a dirty word in some circles. The recent economic challenges have galvanized the public’s negative sentiment toward those greedy “Wall Street bankers”. What you may not know is many banks would agree with you. The cliché, “a few bad apples spoil it for the whole bunch” applies. Most banks are trying hard to …
Top leaders agree, exceptional leadership has no room for ego. Since we started this blog in February we have interviewed top leaders around the country and they all concur. Leaders of great performing companies can’t do it alone. They put the spotlight on their employees. Jim Collins introduced the concept of Level 5 leadership in …
A common question is: “How much is a brand really worth?” No one wants to hear “it depends,” but like so many other things, your brand value escalates with how much you invest in it. According to BrandZ, brands account for about 1/3 of the value of Fortune 500 companies. The combined value of all …
PETER DESILVA UMB BANK Interview with Peter deSilva, President and Chief Operating Officer, UMB Bank. As President and COO of UMB Bank, how would you describe your approach to leadership? When I joined the bank in January of 2004, it was clear that the culture of the 97-year-old financial institution was well established and it was a …
The definition of a brand is “everything that gives an entity its recognition, meaning and value.” The brand perception held by the public, your customers and others familiar with your brand may or may not match the intended brand image. Crafting a brand blueprint is the process of identifying all the touch points your brand …
Everybody knows what branding is, right? I used to think so, but I am no longer convinced. The definition of a brand is “everything that gives an entity its recognition, meaning and value.” Seems simple enough but there are many misunderstandings that inhibit branding execution and reaching the full potential of brand value. Here are some …
Just back from a trip with a new dose of customer service frustration. I am reminded of the book by Ted Cohn, Why are you making it so hard for me to give you my money? His point isn’t that companies don’t want your money—they just don’t want to serve you to get it. No more …
Perhaps, nothing! Perhaps, millions of dollars. The answer depends on how you manage your brand. According to BrandZ, brand value contributes almost 1/3 of the value for Fortune 500 companies, or close to $2 trillion. A brand is defined as “that which gives meaning, recognition and value to your entity.” A brand is often confused …
In today’s competitive marketplace, companies are only as good as their people. The best companies get that and have unique hiring processes to hire people who are aligned culturally with their company’s brand promise. But, so many companies don’t. How many times do you encounter those in the service profession (such as retail associates, telephone …
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